The Box: Plain Sight Group hires Jen Han, Netflix set to film Tout Pour La Lumière in 2025
Antonio Lee - EMedia Holdings
Africa: In recent leadership changes at the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC), eMedia COO Antonio Lee has been appointed as the new chairperson, succeeding Monde Twala, who will remain on the board. Joining the board is the CEO of Kagiso Media's radio division Nick Grubb and Jonathan Procter, the CEO of Primedia. Outgoing board members Melissa McNally and Tracy Stafford will focus on technical oversight within the BRC's Radio Research Committee. The BRC is set to launch comprehensive research initiatives in 2025, including new Radio Audience Measurement (RAMS) and Television Audience Measurement (TAMS). In a statement from Lee, he states the BRC will “represent our commitment to delivering nuanced, accurate, and timely audience insights that will drive strategic decision-making across the media, marketing, and advertising landscapes."
From an ongoing story, the cast and crew of Pound 4 Pound, a series produced by Bakwena Productions and aired on Paramount Africa's BET (DStv 129), are still awaiting payment months after completing the show. Despite multiple promises from Bakwena Productions' Kagiso Modupe and Rashaka Muofhe, many employees have faced evictions and sold personal belongings to survive. Paramount Africa claims to have paid its share of the production costs but has not addressed the ongoing payment issues. This is the third time a production for Paramount Africa has faced similar problems, following Isono and Queendom. Around 60 crew members have taken legal action against Bakwena Productions to recover their owed payments. The situation has raised concerns in the industry, with workers fearing non-payments on future BET shows.
Yonwaba Pangeni is the new head of SABC2, having taken over the role from Gerhard Pretorius in September 2024. However, the SABC did not announce her appointment to the industry through a press release or official advisory. Pangeni was a marketing and brand specialist who previously worked as a brand manager at MultiChoice and a brand specialist at eMedia Holdings.
M-Net will launch Cobrizi, a 13-episode spinoff drama series from The River, on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) in March 2025. Presley Chweneyagae reprises his role as Cobra, joined by several returning cast members including Thapelo Sebogodi as Kabzela, Winnie Ntshaba, Thembsie Matu, and Sivenathi Mabuya. Siphiwe Radebe and Kadia Banyini will also join the cast. Produced by Tshedza Pictures, Cobrizi tells the story of Cobra's journey as he attempts to change his life in inner-city Johannesburg in a "gritty, heart-wrenching and ultimately hopeful tale of survival, love and redemption". M-Net's Shirley Adonisi notes that "Cobra's story really resonated with our Mzansi Magic viewers because of the way it presented the glamorous lives of the Dlamini-Dikanas compared to the struggling Mokoenas. It's a story of hope, resilience, and community".
Jen Han
Latin America: Production services film In Plain Sight Group (IPS) has expanded its management team with the appointment of the former manager of Road Rebel, Jen Han. The company has also opened new production centers in Spain, Iceland, and Kosovo, attracting international production with soft money incentives. IPS, which already has offices in 14 countries, continues to expand its global reach, offering services across Europe, the U.S., and beyond. IPS recently helped Angel Studios in changing the shooting location of Bonhoeffer to Ireland and Belgium to double its soft money access. IPS’s co-founder Mark O’Sullivan expressed excitement about Han’s arrival stating “Her insights, extensive experience, and global perspective add to Jim’s impact and will play a crucial role in expanding our capabilities and driving our mission forward. Our team is committed to providing our clients with unmatched support, wherever their projects may take them in the world.”
Eric Barmack’s L.A.-based production and distribution company Wild Sheep Content has partnered with International Emmy winner Hernán Caffiero on Raza Brava, a four-episode series exploring the dark underworld of the barra brava, a violent fan gang of Chile's Colo-Colo football team. Backed by The Mediapro Studio, the series is produced by Wild Sheep Latin America and Caffiero's Trini Films. Based on true events the series is set between 1981 and 2000 and follows Barti, a poor neighborhood kid who rises to lead the Garra Blanca gang. The series, which stars Karla Melo, Gabriel Muñoz, and David Gaete, will be delivered in Spring 2025 and available for international sales. Raza Brava follows the success of the previous Wild Sheep production, Cromosoma 21.
Europe: Speaking of partnerships; Netflix, TF1, and Newen Studios are partnering on Tout Pour La Lumière, Netflix's first daily drama series in France, set to film in 2025. The family saga, centered around music and dance, will debut on Netflix five days before airing on TF1 and its VoD platform TF1+. The series is written by Coline Assous, Yentl Coubes, and Maxime Cormier and is produced by Céline François, being overseen by Stéphanie Brémond at Newen Studios. Filming will take place in La Ciotat and Marseille. This marks a significant shift as the daily drama, traditionally a linear TV format, debuts on streaming platforms and follows in the footsteps of Disney+'s Return to Las Sabinas, the first daily drama commissioned directly for streaming.
